UCU members and students at the University of Leeds lobbied members of the university's council yesterday evening as part of a protest over job cuts. All university departments, even those making a surplus, have been told to identify cuts of between 10 to 20%. Members handed in a petition signed by staff and students to a member of the university council and there were also speeches from staff and students outside the meeting. University of Leeds UCU branch president, Click here for more: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4297. The lobby hit the regional news here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/8366689.stm. The union has also produced an alternative statement, rejecting Vice Chancellor Michael Arthur’s vision and putting forward a future in which the university invests in staff to build its local and regional profile as a provider of high quality higher education. You can view it here: http://leedsucu.wordpress.com/alternative-vision/
Friday 20 November 2009
Campaign Alliance for Lifelong Learning
The WEA are leading an initiative in the run up to the general election to make sure that adult education is firmly on the national political agenda through local constituency work across the country.
WEA and its CALL partner organisations are inviting students, members, volunteers, tutors, and staff to get involved using the publication of the Report of the Commission on Lifelong Learning as an opportunity to begin a dialogue around adult education with local prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs).
www.callcampaign.org.uk
Friday 30 October 2009
Stand up for Research
The latest proposal by the higher education funding councils is for 25% of the new Research Excellence Framework (REF) to be assessed according to 'economic and social impact'. As academics, researchers and higher education professionals we believe that it is counterproductive to make funding for the best research conditional on its perceived economic and social benefits.
Universities must continue to be spaces in which the spirit of adventure thrives and where researchers enjoy academic freedom to push back the boundaries of knowledge in their disciplines.
We, therefore, call on the UK funding councils to withdraw the current REF proposals and to work with academics and researchers on creating a funding regime which supports and fosters basic research in our universities and colleges rather than discourages it.
We are asking every member in higher education to sign this statement to ensure that HEFCE hear the voice of the profession. You can sign here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/standupforresearchThursday 29 October 2009
UCU vows to fight job losses at University of Leeds
UCU has warned that hundreds of jobs could be risk at the University of Leeds after the university announced plans for a £35 million budget cut. The news comes after 52 staff, from the Faculty of Biological Sciences and School of Healthcare, left over the summer and the union has accused management of putting the university’s academic reputation at risk. UCU University of Leeds branch president, Malcolm Povey, said: “We believe that the vice-chancellor has a duty to defend the academic work of staff at the university. The proposed cuts could lead to hundreds of valuable staff being made redundant at time when the city, and the country, needs a strong higher education sector.
We will defend every job and oppose any threat of compulsory redundancies. Staff are the most important resource at any university and getting rid of huge numbers is not in the interests of the university, its students or the local community. Management needs to work with us during these tough economic times.” http://www.ucu.org.uk/4201
You can follow the campaign and support colleagues across the road by visiting their blog at: http://leedsucu.wordpress.com/
We will defend every job and oppose any threat of compulsory redundancies. Staff are the most important resource at any university and getting rid of huge numbers is not in the interests of the university, its students or the local community. Management needs to work with us during these tough economic times.” http://www.ucu.org.uk/4201
You can follow the campaign and support colleagues across the road by visiting their blog at: http://leedsucu.wordpress.com/
UCU environment conference – 25 November 2009
This will be a major event for UCU environmental activists where we will look at developments in the education sector as well as those at national and international level. For further information and to register, please click here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3386
Monday 5 October 2009
UCU Rally Thursday October 8th, Leeds Uni
Defend Jobs, Defend Education
UCU, UNISON and UNITE rally: Defend Jobs in Higher Education, This Thursday, October 8th, 1230 outside the Edward Boyle Library
The threat to our members jobs and to members of our sister unions continues to increase. Over the summer we have seen 20 voluntary severances in the School of Healthcare and over 30 in the Faculty of Biological Sciences (FBS). The university has stated that it is looking for 60 jobs to go in FBS and has made clear its determination to achieve this level of cuts. Reviews are taking place in at least five other schools and institutes throughout the university.
It is vital that UCU members show their solidarity with those whose jobs are under threat; tomorrow it could be your job. Even if you can’t attend, you can print out the rally notice and attach it to your door, window and notice board.
UCU, UNISON and UNITE rally: Defend Jobs in Higher Education, This Thursday, October 8th, 1230 outside the Edward Boyle Library
The threat to our members jobs and to members of our sister unions continues to increase. Over the summer we have seen 20 voluntary severances in the School of Healthcare and over 30 in the Faculty of Biological Sciences (FBS). The university has stated that it is looking for 60 jobs to go in FBS and has made clear its determination to achieve this level of cuts. Reviews are taking place in at least five other schools and institutes throughout the university.
It is vital that UCU members show their solidarity with those whose jobs are under threat; tomorrow it could be your job. Even if you can’t attend, you can print out the rally notice and attach it to your door, window and notice board.
Friday 2 October 2009
Leeds College of Art Strike Action: Tuesday 29 September
A big thank you to all the members who supported our strike action this week by joining our picket line or by simply not showing up for work. Thank you also to the UCU Branches and members who came along as well. It's great to know that Leeds University UCU and Leeds Met UCU have the time and commitment to support a small college like ours and that members are prepared to travel from Bradford and further afield to support us.
We had more press coverage that our previous day of action; featuring alongside similar actions at Doncaster and Barnsley College on BBC Look North reports on Monday and all day Tuesday; being covered with other industrial actions in the region on Calendar and a lengthy interview played on Radio Leeds throughout the day; and an article in the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Our actions resulted in the Foundation course being unable to attract enough supply teachers and having to give the students an independent study day, while elsewhere in the college whole departments and workshops were closed.
A marked difference between this and previous actions has been the amount of support shown by students and members of the public. Throughout the day Branch members engaged students in discussion about the key issues of the strike and the wider context of union activity within the college. Students were both supportive of our actions and shocked by the reluctance of management to engage in conversation with us. Our petition has been an important tool in engaging a wider public and currently the number of signatures stands at approximately 750, though continuing to grow daily online ww.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/leeds-college-of-art.html
Julie Kelley, an UCU regional official who was on the picket line with us did manage to have a conversation with Simone Wonnacott who promised that her door was open to UCU and our Regional Office has been busy ensuring that Simone holds to her word.
Elsewhere in the region there was some very good news on the eve of the strike. Following an 11th hour meeting with management on Friday, the Askam Bryan College branch were able to confirm to us that management had agreed to a schedule of meetings over the Autumn term with a commitment to resolving the current dispute. The first two meetings have already been scheduled during October with ACAS facilitating. Consequently, the branch have agreed the suspend strike action.
As our IOU campaign continues we should take heart from the victory by UCU members at Tower Hamlets College which shows that union action is effective in changing the direction of management.
Doncaster College Demonstration - Saturday 10 October
DONCASTER COLLEGE: STOP THE CUTS
119 JOBS UNDER THREAT
Forget the media babble about what the Tories or New Labour might cut after the next election. Jobs are being cut in FE colleges up and down the country. The threat to 119 jobs at Doncaster College will massively reduce provision and add to Doncaster’s already disproportionate unemployment total. It is a scandal that colleges are being denied money because of the billions used to bail out the banks. We should be investing in FE and giving our young people the skills and education they need. Doncaster UCU is determined to fight the cuts. We are inspired by the brilliant fight back of our colleagues at Tower Hamlets College who went all out and won. The fight starts now. Doncaster UCU is backing the joint union demonstration called with Unison and Doncaster Trades Council to fight cuts across the public sector. We are asking for your support. Bring your members and banners – Let’s rage against this madness.
DEMONSTRATE AGAINST COLLEGE AND PUBLIC SECTOR CUTS: SATURDAY OCTOBER 10TH
ASSEMBLE: 10.30 AT THE MANSION HOUSE, HIGH STREET, DONCASTER.
March and rally. Speakers from Doncaster UCU and UCU Yorkshire and Humberside Region, Unison and FBU.
119 JOBS UNDER THREAT
Forget the media babble about what the Tories or New Labour might cut after the next election. Jobs are being cut in FE colleges up and down the country. The threat to 119 jobs at Doncaster College will massively reduce provision and add to Doncaster’s already disproportionate unemployment total. It is a scandal that colleges are being denied money because of the billions used to bail out the banks. We should be investing in FE and giving our young people the skills and education they need. Doncaster UCU is determined to fight the cuts. We are inspired by the brilliant fight back of our colleagues at Tower Hamlets College who went all out and won. The fight starts now. Doncaster UCU is backing the joint union demonstration called with Unison and Doncaster Trades Council to fight cuts across the public sector. We are asking for your support. Bring your members and banners – Let’s rage against this madness.
DEMONSTRATE AGAINST COLLEGE AND PUBLIC SECTOR CUTS: SATURDAY OCTOBER 10TH
ASSEMBLE: 10.30 AT THE MANSION HOUSE, HIGH STREET, DONCASTER.
March and rally. Speakers from Doncaster UCU and UCU Yorkshire and Humberside Region, Unison and FBU.
Monday 28 September 2009
Further Messages of Support
Hi Richard
This email contains our very best wishes to you all from Doncaster Branch for tomorrow.
I have emailed to Simone asking her to sit down with you and thrash out a deal.
Yours in struggle
Best regards
Rodney Challis. BA., Cert.Ed, MIfL.
Lecturer and
Branch Secretary,
Doncaster Branch University and College Union (UCU)
This email contains our very best wishes to you all from Doncaster Branch for tomorrow.
I have emailed to Simone asking her to sit down with you and thrash out a deal.
Yours in struggle
Best regards
Rodney Challis. BA., Cert.Ed, MIfL.
Lecturer and
Branch Secretary,
Doncaster Branch University and College Union (UCU)
Messages of Support
Please convey the ongoing message of strength, solidarity and success from Bradford Branch to members at Leeds College of Art Branch of UCU.
Recent times, and I refer specifically to Tower Hamlets, have shown strength, solidarity and success go together and we hope your picket lines will be strong and the branch will be successful.
It’s beyond comprehension that employers would not pay the harmonised scale: don’t they understand the impact on quality, goodwill, staff morale, not to mention the employment impact – who’d want to work with an employer of an ‘educational institution’ with little regard for teaching and teachers?
Tricia: Branch Secretary at Bradford Branch UCU.
__________________________________________
Our branch wish you Good luck on Tuesday!
Tony (UCU chair @ Dearne Valley College)
Recent times, and I refer specifically to Tower Hamlets, have shown strength, solidarity and success go together and we hope your picket lines will be strong and the branch will be successful.
It’s beyond comprehension that employers would not pay the harmonised scale: don’t they understand the impact on quality, goodwill, staff morale, not to mention the employment impact – who’d want to work with an employer of an ‘educational institution’ with little regard for teaching and teachers?
Tricia: Branch Secretary at Bradford Branch UCU.
__________________________________________
Our branch wish you Good luck on Tuesday!
Tony (UCU chair @ Dearne Valley College)
Wednesday 23 September 2009
Online petition: Leeds College of Art should Pay Up
Sign our online petition
We, the undersigned believe that Leeds College of Art plays a vital role in our community, offering access to education and hope for learners of all ages and all backgrounds. This role is even more important during the current economic recession. We are deeply concerned that for more than four years, our college has got away with refusing to pay its lecturers the nationally agreed rate for their job. This has demoralised and demotivated staff and undermined the provision of high quality education in our community. We call on Leeds College to pay staff the money they are owed.
http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/30978.html
We, the undersigned believe that Leeds College of Art plays a vital role in our community, offering access to education and hope for learners of all ages and all backgrounds. This role is even more important during the current economic recession. We are deeply concerned that for more than four years, our college has got away with refusing to pay its lecturers the nationally agreed rate for their job. This has demoralised and demotivated staff and undermined the provision of high quality education in our community. We call on Leeds College to pay staff the money they are owed.
http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/30978.html
Message of Support from Sally Hunt
Dear colleague
Support the strike on 29 September
I know that you are busy at this time with the beginning of the new teaching term, but I wanted to ask you to take a few minutes to read this email.
I am writing to ask you to support the strike being called by UCU at your college on 29 September. This strike forms part of our campaign to help win you the money your college owes you.
As you know, your college is one of a minority who have refused to pay you money you should have had four years ago. For four long years, you have been paid less than your colleagues at the great majority of other colleges in the country.
UCU believes that this is grossly unfair and unacceptable.
Why should you put long hours into teaching or supporting students year after year, only for your management to tell you that you aren’t worth as much as your colleagues?
I know that you are professionals and that doing anything that affects your students goes against the ethos that sustains you at work. Everyone in UCU shares that ethos. It’s what makes us professionals providing a public service.
However, we also need to be able to say that we are worth a professional wage and that our employer should respect us as professionals. There is a lot of talk about the importance of education and training at the moment, not least from our colleges. Yet at the same time, too many of them are attacking staff, attacking terms and conditions and, in your case, persisting in trying to get their teaching on the cheap.
That’s why UCU has, with the agreement of your branch officers, targeted your college.
We have achieved a lot in the course of this campaign. 21 colleges have been selected for targeting. Only 9 colleges, of which yours is one, still remain as targets. Recruitment has grown in those branches in the campaign.
A strong strike on 29 September will send a clear message that we are not going away. That’s why I am asking you to join your colleagues in observing the strike and helping them on the picket lines on the 29th. Let’s end the rip off at your college. Support the strike.
All the best
Sally Hunt
UCU general secretary
Support the strike on 29 September
I know that you are busy at this time with the beginning of the new teaching term, but I wanted to ask you to take a few minutes to read this email.
I am writing to ask you to support the strike being called by UCU at your college on 29 September. This strike forms part of our campaign to help win you the money your college owes you.
As you know, your college is one of a minority who have refused to pay you money you should have had four years ago. For four long years, you have been paid less than your colleagues at the great majority of other colleges in the country.
UCU believes that this is grossly unfair and unacceptable.
Why should you put long hours into teaching or supporting students year after year, only for your management to tell you that you aren’t worth as much as your colleagues?
I know that you are professionals and that doing anything that affects your students goes against the ethos that sustains you at work. Everyone in UCU shares that ethos. It’s what makes us professionals providing a public service.
However, we also need to be able to say that we are worth a professional wage and that our employer should respect us as professionals. There is a lot of talk about the importance of education and training at the moment, not least from our colleges. Yet at the same time, too many of them are attacking staff, attacking terms and conditions and, in your case, persisting in trying to get their teaching on the cheap.
That’s why UCU has, with the agreement of your branch officers, targeted your college.
We have achieved a lot in the course of this campaign. 21 colleges have been selected for targeting. Only 9 colleges, of which yours is one, still remain as targets. Recruitment has grown in those branches in the campaign.
A strong strike on 29 September will send a clear message that we are not going away. That’s why I am asking you to join your colleagues in observing the strike and helping them on the picket lines on the 29th. Let’s end the rip off at your college. Support the strike.
All the best
Sally Hunt
UCU general secretary
Tuesday 22 September 2009
All you need to know about the IOU Campaign
What is the aim of the IOU campaign?
The IOU campaign is the latest phase of the union’s broader campaign to ensure that further education college employers adhere to a national agreement on pay.
In 2004, the union signed a national agreement that produced a new improved pay scale for lecturers.Initially, only around one third of the colleges implemented this new pay deal, leading the union to take widespread industrial action in 2005 to improve this. As a result, the great majority of colleges have implemented, or are in talks to implement, the improved pay scale. But around 60 colleges continue to refuse to do this. Leeds College of Art is one of them.
Our college has refused to put in place better pay for its staff. The college continues to secure LSC funding, but it has made a decision to pay you less than your colleagues at other colleges. The aim of the IOU campaign is to drive our college and the other outstanding colleges towards implementing the same or a comparable improved pay scale for all lecturers.
What happens next?
There will be another one day strike on 29 September in which the following branches will take action: Croydon College, College of North-West London, Greenwich College, Rotherham College, Leeds College of Art and Design, Askham Bryan College and Suffolk New College.
The programme of action will include a month of action in October and November when protests, demonstrative action and recruitment activity will be combined with building a petition to the board of governors of each college and political lobbying. In addition, colleges will be asked to sign up to a new timetable of industrial action and/or action short of a strike.
Ultimately, the campaign will continue for as long as there are branches and members who want fair pay and are prepared to campaign for it. Our ultimate aim is to win complete adherence to the national agreement. That’s ambitious, but already the highly successful record of the IOU campaign shows that campaigning produces results.
Saturday 12 September 2009
OU colleges prepare for winter term action
UCU branches in the remaining IOU colleges are preparing for a fresh round of industrial action as their campaign to win implementation of the 2004 pay deal and claim back the money they are owed. The remaining IOU colleges are Askham Bryan College, College of North West London, Croydon College, Dearne Valley College, Doncaster College, Greenwich Community College, Leeds College of Art and Design, Rotherham College of Arts and Technology and Suffolk New College. Strike action is likely to take place at the end of September.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
The IOU campaign is not just about local disputes. It is part of a national effort to ensure that college employers implement national pay agreements. The effectiveness of the local action is greatly enhanced by support from other colleges in the regions and across the country. Please support your colleagues at these colleges in any way you can.
·Send a message of support to jwhite@ucu.org.uk and we will pass it on.
·Contact the branch secretaries and offer to bring members to the visit the pickets. You can find contact details for the branches here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3029
·Read more about this campaign: www.ucu.org.uk/iou
WHAT YOU CAN DO
The IOU campaign is not just about local disputes. It is part of a national effort to ensure that college employers implement national pay agreements. The effectiveness of the local action is greatly enhanced by support from other colleges in the regions and across the country. Please support your colleagues at these colleges in any way you can.
·Send a message of support to jwhite@ucu.org.uk and we will pass it on.
·Contact the branch secretaries and offer to bring members to the visit the pickets. You can find contact details for the branches here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3029
·Read more about this campaign: www.ucu.org.uk/iou
Tuesday 8 September 2009
Jobs, education, peace – support UCU’s September rally
UCU has teamed up with fellow unions PCS, NUT and NUJ for a rally at the Labour Party conference on Sunday 27 September. Under the slogan ‘Jobs, Education, Peace’, the unions will call for a change of direction away from cutting public expenditure toward investment in education and jobs.
The protest now has a Facebook group, which you can join here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114830813431&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=114830813431
It is also on Twitter, here https://twitter.com/new_direction
You can download leaflets here http://www.ucu.org.uk/labourlobby
The protest now has a Facebook group, which you can join here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114830813431&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=114830813431
It is also on Twitter, here https://twitter.com/new_direction
You can download leaflets here http://www.ucu.org.uk/labourlobby
Wednesday 26 August 2009
Trade Unions Holding Back Sector?
Times Higher Education report.
Why am I not surprised by this?
I guess it's true from the corporate management perspective. If they want to do more for less, how can they increase the exploitation rate when UCU keeps putting a spoke in the wheel? They need the support of non-union staff who can see the wisdom of short term contracts, staff cuts, more work for less pay, and acceptance of the current economic crisis as something that is bestowed on us by nature.
Make no mistake, there's going to be more and more of this appearing in the coming months, and it will be even worse if the Tory's get in power in 2010.
Why am I not surprised by this?
I guess it's true from the corporate management perspective. If they want to do more for less, how can they increase the exploitation rate when UCU keeps putting a spoke in the wheel? They need the support of non-union staff who can see the wisdom of short term contracts, staff cuts, more work for less pay, and acceptance of the current economic crisis as something that is bestowed on us by nature.
Make no mistake, there's going to be more and more of this appearing in the coming months, and it will be even worse if the Tory's get in power in 2010.
Thursday 16 July 2009
England FE Pay Offer
Branches are being asked to convene meetings before 16 September to discuss whether members wish to accept the 1.5% pay offer for 2009/10, or reject and ballot for national strike action. The FE Sector Conference on 19 September will then decide the unions position.
Full details of the conference including venue, delegation entitlements and registration have now been sent to branches as a formal circular which can be downloaded at http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/UCU196.html
Full details of the conference including venue, delegation entitlements and registration have now been sent to branches as a formal circular which can be downloaded at http://www.ucu.org.uk/circ/html/UCU196.html
Tuesday 14 July 2009
Friday 10 July 2009
Campaigning Alliance for Lifelong Learning (CALL)
Latest CALL bulletin out now : fighting cuts in Lifelong Learning
The latest bulletin from the Campaigning Alliance for Lifelong Learning (CALL) is now available online here http://www.callcampaign.org.uk/?cat=16. CALL was founded by a coalition of organisations including UCU, to campaign for lifelong learning opportunities for all, and to fight the cuts in Adult Learning that have seen two million learners’ places lost since 2005.
The bulletin contains all the latest information on how you can support CALL and how UCU members are fighting cuts at institutions like Tower Hamlets college where half of all ESOL, literacy and numeracy courses offered are under threat. You can also find out if your member of parliament is one of the 185 MPs that have signed the early day motion on lifelong learning and what to do if they haven’t!
The latest bulletin from the Campaigning Alliance for Lifelong Learning (CALL) is now available online here http://www.callcampaign.org.uk/?cat=16. CALL was founded by a coalition of organisations including UCU, to campaign for lifelong learning opportunities for all, and to fight the cuts in Adult Learning that have seen two million learners’ places lost since 2005.
The bulletin contains all the latest information on how you can support CALL and how UCU members are fighting cuts at institutions like Tower Hamlets college where half of all ESOL, literacy and numeracy courses offered are under threat. You can also find out if your member of parliament is one of the 185 MPs that have signed the early day motion on lifelong learning and what to do if they haven’t!
Support the fight for jobs at Leeds University
Members are asked to support Leeds University UCU’s campaign against 100 job cuts in the schools of Biological Sciences and Healthcare. The branch is building the campaign into a coordinated fightback against cuts in the region, holding a meeting recently attended by speakers from Leeds Metropolitan, which is also cutting jobs, Bradford College and Leeds College of Art and Design.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Please sign the petition against cuts at Leeds at: www.ucu.org.uk/leedsjobcuts
And you can download the local newsletter with more information on job cuts at Leeds at: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ucu/200809/June09.pdf
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Please sign the petition against cuts at Leeds at: www.ucu.org.uk/leedsjobcuts
And you can download the local newsletter with more information on job cuts at Leeds at: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ucu/200809/June09.pdf
Wednesday 24 June 2009
UCU slams call for tuition fees rise
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, responded to an article in the Guardian from Simon Jenkins that called for a rise in a tuition fees and greater university privatisation. Hunt described the proposal as ‘yet another slap in the face for people who believe in a free and inclusive education sector’. She went on to say that ‘increasing fees or the other financial barriers that so many students and parents come up against when considering university is certainly not the way to deliver a world-class university system.’ Read Simon Jenkins’ article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/11/university-funding-fees-mandelson. To read Sally’s response, click here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/15/letters-universities-tuition-fees
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/15/letters-universities-tuition-fees
FE funding – Sign the online petition
A reminder to members to sign the joint union’s online petition against cuts to FE and adult education funding. As we run up to the next general election it is vital that we raise the profile of the crucial role that further and adult education play in our communities and the national economy. Now is not the time to be putting the infrastructure of FE, both human and capital, at risk with funding cuts.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: SIGN NOW – Let’s send a clear message to all parties that education is vital for our economy and our communities. Click here to sign: http://www.ucu.org.uk/nofundingcuts
WHAT YOU CAN DO: SIGN NOW – Let’s send a clear message to all parties that education is vital for our economy and our communities. Click here to sign: http://www.ucu.org.uk/nofundingcuts
FE ‘IOU’: Strike at Askham Bryan College as management torpedo pay talks
Angry members at Askham Bryan College were left with no choice but to take strike action this Tuesday as talks to implement the 2004 pay agreement at the Agricultural college broke down when management introduced a longer pay scale and a series of barriers to progression. Members at the college are particularly furious as management narrowly avoided strike action earlier this year with an 11th hour commitment to implement the improved pay scales. Now, their manoeuvres have forced members into strike action and the college is firmly back in the union's sights. For more on this story and pictures from the picket lines, click here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/iou. For the press release and local coverage, click here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3943 and here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/8102483.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/8102483.stm
Thursday 11 June 2009
Leeds College of Art Strike press coverage
ITV Calander News
BBC Look North
Apologies for the poor sound quality
Wednesday 10 June 2009
Strike Press coverage
Press coverage of our Strike has been excellent. There have been radio interviews with Richard Miles (Branch Secretary) on BBC Radio Leeds and Radio Aire; TV coverage on BBC Look North & an interview with Christian Lloyd (Branch Chair) on Yorkshire ITV's Calendar; web coverage through the BBC online and Indymedia, and press releases and photos going to the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Evening Post. In addition to this visitor numbers to this blog continue to increase.
Staff strike at Leeds College of Art and Design in pay row
Leeds College of Art and Design was brought to a standstill today in a row over its failure to honour a pay deal agreed over four years ago. Classes were cancelled as the college is being targeted for action by members of the University and College Union (UCU).In 2003/4, a two-year national agreement was drawn up that heralded pay parity for college lecturers with schoolteachers. Thousands of further education lecturers had been unable to reach the higher pay levels enjoyed by schoolteachers, 50% of whom get extra allowances worth between £2,364 and £11,557 per annum on top of their basic earnings. The deal introduced shorter new scales that provided higher salaries for new lecturers and faster progression to the top points. The union has described the failure by colleges still to honour the deal as one of the longest IOUs from management to staff in the history of industrial relations.
Picket lines were held outside the college’s two main sites on Blenheim Walk and Vernon Street from 8am. Support was also shown by UCU members from Barnsley College, Leeds University, Bradford College, Thomas Danby & Leeds College of Technology supporting their colleagues.
Richard Miles, who teaches at the college and is a UCU member, said: “We regret having to taken this action, but we think it’s unfair that our pay is being kept down. It’s only fair that we are paid the same as staff at other colleges and we call upon the college to implement the 2004 deal. The college is already experiencing a high turnover of staff because of the pay and conditions offered by management, and we can’t afford to lose any more of our best people.”
UCU head of further education, Barry Lovejoy, said: “It’s a real shame that things have come to this. The staff are not greedy; they are merely asking for the money they should have been paid four years ago. It is the intransigence of the college that has pushed members' patience too far and forced them into industrial action. Members at Leeds are getting second-class pay for first-class teaching.”
BBC: College staff strike over pay row
College lecturers in Leeds are holding a one-day strike over pay
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/8092785.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/8092785.stm
Friday 5 June 2009
Letter From Regional Office To LCAD Managment
Dear Simone
Offer to Open Pay Negotiations
I am the Regional Official for the University and College Union in Yorkshire and Humberside. First of all can I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment as Principal of Leeds College of Art and Design and also express my desire to establish a meaningful and productive relationship between ourselves and the institutions we represent.
Barry Lovejoy wrote to you on 2nd June informing you of the industrial action ballot result and the impending one day strike timetabled to take place on 10th June. The local branch officers and I would like to meet with you as a matter of urgency to discuss and progress the issue of moving staff to the AOC national pay spine.
I have seen the e-mail you sent to all staff on 3rd June and have noted your recognition of the hard work and dedication staff have shown and continue to show towards the college and its students. You have stated that this is something that you value and appreciate. These are very worthy sentiments and I am sure colleagues appreciate this. However, staff now want to see this appreciation to be shown in the colleges pay system. It is clear from the e-mail that there are many major differences between the national Harmonised Pay Scale and LCAD payscale. You will be aware that employees at the college are paid considerably less than colleagues at other colleges in the region.
Your e-mail also mentioned, banding and a pay differential of £8,355 at the top of the scale. It is clearly therefore misleading to imply that the college has already implemented the harmonised pay scale.
UCU are opposed to hard restrictions being placed on the pay spine that link pay progression to additional responsibilities. The 8 Point Pay Scale for the career family “Teaching and Training” when agreed in 2004 has no restrictions placed upon it and is designed to remunerate qualified main grade lecturers.
If there are genuine financial issues that are affecting the implementation of the national pay spine we would wish to discuss them. However it should be noted that we believe the college is in good financial health and that the implementation of the 2004 pay deal is well overdue.
It is not too late to prevent industrial action. As already stated local Branch Officers and I would welcome a commitment from you to begin “meaningful consultation”. If you could provide a formal written proposal regarding how to resolve this outstanding issue this would be most welcome.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Julie Kelley
Regional Official
Offer to Open Pay Negotiations
I am the Regional Official for the University and College Union in Yorkshire and Humberside. First of all can I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment as Principal of Leeds College of Art and Design and also express my desire to establish a meaningful and productive relationship between ourselves and the institutions we represent.
Barry Lovejoy wrote to you on 2nd June informing you of the industrial action ballot result and the impending one day strike timetabled to take place on 10th June. The local branch officers and I would like to meet with you as a matter of urgency to discuss and progress the issue of moving staff to the AOC national pay spine.
I have seen the e-mail you sent to all staff on 3rd June and have noted your recognition of the hard work and dedication staff have shown and continue to show towards the college and its students. You have stated that this is something that you value and appreciate. These are very worthy sentiments and I am sure colleagues appreciate this. However, staff now want to see this appreciation to be shown in the colleges pay system. It is clear from the e-mail that there are many major differences between the national Harmonised Pay Scale and LCAD payscale. You will be aware that employees at the college are paid considerably less than colleagues at other colleges in the region.
Your e-mail also mentioned, banding and a pay differential of £8,355 at the top of the scale. It is clearly therefore misleading to imply that the college has already implemented the harmonised pay scale.
UCU are opposed to hard restrictions being placed on the pay spine that link pay progression to additional responsibilities. The 8 Point Pay Scale for the career family “Teaching and Training” when agreed in 2004 has no restrictions placed upon it and is designed to remunerate qualified main grade lecturers.
If there are genuine financial issues that are affecting the implementation of the national pay spine we would wish to discuss them. However it should be noted that we believe the college is in good financial health and that the implementation of the 2004 pay deal is well overdue.
It is not too late to prevent industrial action. As already stated local Branch Officers and I would welcome a commitment from you to begin “meaningful consultation”. If you could provide a formal written proposal regarding how to resolve this outstanding issue this would be most welcome.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Julie Kelley
Regional Official
Thursday 4 June 2009
Wednesday 3 June 2009
Message of Support from Barnsley
Heartfelt thanks to all who show solidarity with our struggle.
'Hi Colleagues
On behalf of Barnsley College UCU I would like to congratulate your members on their resounding vote in favour of action for pay justice. It is absolutely disgraceful that some colleges have refused to honour a deal we fought for and balloted nationally in favour to accept after so many years.
You have the full support of Barnsley College members – we will try to get a delegation to your picket line and we invite a representative to come and speak to our UCU branch as we are meeting in the afternoon of Wed. 10th.
Thanks
Dave Gibson (UCU sec Barnsley College)'
Tuesday 2 June 2009
YES for stike action
The Ballot papers for the IOU - No more teaching on the cheap campaign have been returned, signaling a support for strike action at Leeds College of Art & Design.
The campaign focuses on the college's commitment to fully sign up to the 2004 Harmonised Pay Scale, which has left staff stuck on fixed salary points, with no annual movement up that spine in some form or other.
Edmund Wigan has just retired from the College as Principal, it is now in the hands of his replacement, Simone Goodwill, to decide whether to single an intention to genuinely 'value staff' at the college and honour the 2004 agreement or continue with the same rhetoric and practice of devaluing staff's contributions.
The campaign focuses on the college's commitment to fully sign up to the 2004 Harmonised Pay Scale, which has left staff stuck on fixed salary points, with no annual movement up that spine in some form or other.
Edmund Wigan has just retired from the College as Principal, it is now in the hands of his replacement, Simone Goodwill, to decide whether to single an intention to genuinely 'value staff' at the college and honour the 2004 agreement or continue with the same rhetoric and practice of devaluing staff's contributions.
Wednesday 27 May 2009
FE IOU Campaign
FE IOU Campaign: Pay success at College of North-West London!
The FE IOU campaign notched up yet another success this week as members at College of North-West London reached agreement with their management over implementation of the 2004 pay agreement. CNWL was one of the first wave of colleges targeted by UCU and the branch, supported by regional and national officers had fought a hugely energetic campaign, including three days of solid strike action. These efforts finally brought the college management to the negotiating table and late on Wednesday, news broke that an agreement had been reached. Members at CNWL have rammed home the message that sustained, focused and determined action brings results.
FE IOU Campaign: Croydon College UCU – still here, still angry and still determined to win pay justice:
On the same day that College of North-West London finally reached agreement, members at another of the outstanding ‘first wave’ IOU colleges delivered an impressive day of strike action. UCU members at Croydon College are angry that their management is still refusing to negotiate meaningfully to implement the 2004 pay spine and on Wednesday morning, they were out in force outside the Fairfield building. More than 30 pickets turned out to send a clear message to management that they will not give up or go away. As the example of College of North-West London shows, persistence will tell. On behalf of the branch, thanks to everyone who sent messages of support to Croydon. Click here for more, including pictures from the picket lines: http://www.ucu.org.uk/iou. For the union’s press release, click here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3896
The FE IOU campaign notched up yet another success this week as members at College of North-West London reached agreement with their management over implementation of the 2004 pay agreement. CNWL was one of the first wave of colleges targeted by UCU and the branch, supported by regional and national officers had fought a hugely energetic campaign, including three days of solid strike action. These efforts finally brought the college management to the negotiating table and late on Wednesday, news broke that an agreement had been reached. Members at CNWL have rammed home the message that sustained, focused and determined action brings results.
FE IOU Campaign: Croydon College UCU – still here, still angry and still determined to win pay justice:
On the same day that College of North-West London finally reached agreement, members at another of the outstanding ‘first wave’ IOU colleges delivered an impressive day of strike action. UCU members at Croydon College are angry that their management is still refusing to negotiate meaningfully to implement the 2004 pay spine and on Wednesday morning, they were out in force outside the Fairfield building. More than 30 pickets turned out to send a clear message to management that they will not give up or go away. As the example of College of North-West London shows, persistence will tell. On behalf of the branch, thanks to everyone who sent messages of support to Croydon. Click here for more, including pictures from the picket lines: http://www.ucu.org.uk/iou. For the union’s press release, click here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3896
Tuesday 19 May 2009
Half day conference
Nuffield Review of 14-19 Education and Training
A half-day conference on Tuesday 23 June 2009, 9.30 am - 1.00 pm at Weetwood Hall, University of Leeds hosted by the University of Leeds Post-14 Research Group to launch the report of the Nuffield Review of 14-19 Education and Training
http://www.education.leeds.ac.uk/research/lifelong/seminars.php
For other locations see: http://www.nuffield14-19review.org.uk/events.shtml
A half-day conference on Tuesday 23 June 2009, 9.30 am - 1.00 pm at Weetwood Hall, University of Leeds hosted by the University of Leeds Post-14 Research Group to launch the report of the Nuffield Review of 14-19 Education and Training
http://www.education.leeds.ac.uk/research/lifelong/seminars.php
For other locations see: http://www.nuffield14-19review.org.uk/events.shtml
Monday 4 May 2009
Ballot opens at 3 IOU colleges – send your messages of support
Members at City College Birmingham, Leeds College of Art and Design and Suffolk New College began voting on whether to take strike action this week in the latest phase of the IOU campaign. Management at all three colleges have failed to implement the 2004 national pay agreement which improved FE lecturers' pay.
UCU has targeted around 20 colleges in the last six months and all but a handful are now in negotiations or have reached settlements. These may look like local campaigns but in reality this is a national campaign about our ability to hold employers to national agreements. That's why it's so important that these members get our support.
UCU has targeted around 20 colleges in the last six months and all but a handful are now in negotiations or have reached settlements. These may look like local campaigns but in reality this is a national campaign about our ability to hold employers to national agreements. That's why it's so important that these members get our support.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Please send messages of support to the branches via Jonathan white at jwhite@ucu.org.uk
For more on this story and the latest updates, click here: www.ucu.org.uk/iou
Thursday 30 April 2009
A message of support from Sally Hunt, General Secretary, UCU
Dear colleague
I am writing to ask you to support your union in the current ballot at Leeds College of Art and Design. You are being balloted for industrial action and action short of a strike so that we can ensure that you finally receive the money your college owes you.
Four years ago, we signed a national deal that brought with it substantial pay rises for lecturing staff. Unfortunately, your college is one of a group who refused to honour this agreement.
UCU can no longer tolerate this. At a time when politicians are talking about the importance of investing in skills and training to support our communities through the recession, it’s unacceptable that colleges such as yours are trying to get their teaching on the cheap.
I know that your local branch officers have tried talking to the college to persuade them to implement the agreement, but in spite of their best efforts for four years the college has refused to negotiate meaningfully.
That means that we need to show them we are serious and that’s why I am asking you to vote yes for industrial action and action short of a strike.
I know that we can win this campaign. If you support your union in this ballot, together we can ensure that you get the money you are owed. Over the last six months, UCU has targeted around 20 other colleges who had not implemented the 2004 pay agreement and all but a handful of these colleges have either reached agreement or are now in talks about implementing the pay increases. See: http://www.ucu.org.uk/iou
I sincerely hope that industrial action will not prove necessary. We have written to the management of your college asking for talks. But the lesson of the other ‘IOU’ colleges shows that we must be able to send a clear message that we are serious. The bigger the turnout and the bigger the yes vote, the greater will be the chances of your management coming to the table.
So please vote yes and make sure your colleagues see this message.
Yours sincerely
Sally Hunt,
General Secretary, UCU
I am writing to ask you to support your union in the current ballot at Leeds College of Art and Design. You are being balloted for industrial action and action short of a strike so that we can ensure that you finally receive the money your college owes you.
Four years ago, we signed a national deal that brought with it substantial pay rises for lecturing staff. Unfortunately, your college is one of a group who refused to honour this agreement.
UCU can no longer tolerate this. At a time when politicians are talking about the importance of investing in skills and training to support our communities through the recession, it’s unacceptable that colleges such as yours are trying to get their teaching on the cheap.
I know that your local branch officers have tried talking to the college to persuade them to implement the agreement, but in spite of their best efforts for four years the college has refused to negotiate meaningfully.
That means that we need to show them we are serious and that’s why I am asking you to vote yes for industrial action and action short of a strike.
I know that we can win this campaign. If you support your union in this ballot, together we can ensure that you get the money you are owed. Over the last six months, UCU has targeted around 20 other colleges who had not implemented the 2004 pay agreement and all but a handful of these colleges have either reached agreement or are now in talks about implementing the pay increases. See: http://www.ucu.org.uk/iou
I sincerely hope that industrial action will not prove necessary. We have written to the management of your college asking for talks. But the lesson of the other ‘IOU’ colleges shows that we must be able to send a clear message that we are serious. The bigger the turnout and the bigger the yes vote, the greater will be the chances of your management coming to the table.
So please vote yes and make sure your colleagues see this message.
Yours sincerely
Sally Hunt,
General Secretary, UCU
Wednesday 29 April 2009
VOTE YES
Leeds College of Art and Design UCU members will be voting in a ballot for action as part of a national campaign to press those colleges that disgracefully have failed to implement a national agreement on pay reached in 2004.The Principal has been asked to give a commitment to move lecturers onto the harmonised pay spine and negotiate a timeframe for assimilation. This has not been forthcoming and there has been no response to our request. National officials and Regional Officials have written urging the employer to talk to UCU – again nothing.
Of the five colleges in this second round, Canterbury and Peterborough colleges have agreed and have been removed from the ballot leaving LCAD, City College Birmingham and Suffolk New College. There is still time for this college to stop this process by agreeing the Harmonised Pay Spine and a timeframe for implementation.
Unfortunately the past years of inactivity by the local union has led to a management culture that feels it can do anything and will face little resistance. This college has the worst paid staff not only in Leeds but in Yorkshire.
There is nowhere else that fixes people on a single pay salary point. Every other college has a spine and movement annually up that spine in some form or other. Management themselves have recognised there is a problem with the currently opaque and ad hoc system, stating in the Corporate Aims and Objectives for 2008-13 that they wish to establish a “consistent recruitment procedures for promotions”. The Harmonised Pay scale provides that consistent framework for promotion and its adoption by management would signal the college’s commitment to ‘valuing staff’ rather than empty rhetoric and the stated practice of seeing teaching at the college as a first step on our careers; the subtext being, if you want more pay go somewhere else. Our high staff turn over is testament to this.
Not only we the worst paid staff in Yorkshire and alone in having fixed salary points, we are discovering that conditions enjoyed generally in colleges, schools and universities have been steadily eroded here while the Union has been dormant. Check your sick leave entitlement. Other colleges provide for six months full pay and six months half pay after a qualifying employment period. This college sometime in the recent past changed that to a maximum of 2 months full and two months half pay after 4 years service. Because we haven’t been organised as a union over the past few years the employer has got away with murder.
That is about to change. Membership of UCU has tripled over that past two years we are getting organised. We’re not greedy, we are not militant – 15 years of taking it on the chin shows that. We are however becoming angry and fed up with the shoddy treatment of hard working and dedicated professionals. The Art College is built on the commitment of its staff, and to not have that dedication acknowledged by providing a salary spine that promotes career progression is insulting to all of us.
We urge you to vote yes and get behind your union. if you are not a member join on line at www.ucu.org.uk
Questions & Answers
We know we are going to be faced with many questions and with statements about our action. The one already being bandied about is that it is wrong to take strike action during a time of economic recession and spiralling unemployment. Well no, it is not! Any public opprobrium should be directed at the bankers that have been on strike i.e. refusing to lend money, for several months. That refusal to lend money causes firms to go bust and workers to be made redundant. They continue withholding their capital (actually it’s our capital, now that we are bailing them out). The Government wants them to put money into the economy so that people begin to spend and create demand for goods and services. We will do that when we are paid what is owed us. Any increase in our spending power will benefit the local economy, stimulating demand for goods and services and therefore creating employment.
No doubt we will also be told that our action will jeopardise the viability of our college putting our jobs at risk. Well no, it will not! Many will remember that during the last recession it was FE that re trained and re skilled the people of Yorkshire. Again the government this time has stated that Colleges will be the lifeboat in this crisis. Money will be pumped into colleges to re-skill and re-train the workforce and reduce the dole queue. There has been a 40% increase in applications for HE courses nationally. Our message is that colleges should treat the crew of the lifeboat with respect and with the remuneration commensurate with the vital role that we will play. They should pay us what we are owed and have waited long enough to receive. It’s worth remembering that the college is forecasting an operating surplus of £400,000 for 2008/09, having achieved a similar figure in 2007/08.
The old spectre of an argument that the students will be harmed by our action will once again be raised. Well no, it will not! What will harm the students is an exodus of staff to other colleges in Yorkshire, where the Harmonised Pay scale is a reality. If you want to keep the crew in the lifeboat you don’t pay second rate money for a first class and crucial job!
One question you might be asking yourselves is can I afford to take strike action in these economic times? Nobody wants to loose a days pay, but at the same time the longer you work at the college the worse off we are. Colleagues in other institutions will be repeating the benefits of the incremental Harmonised Pay scale while we stay on our fixed points. Also, UCU will be supporting our action by paying £30 strike pay. Employers are exploiting fears about the economy, to ride rough-shod over employees. The key question is can we afford not to take action?
Our college is one of a minority of colleges that refuses to implement a national agreement reached between UCU and the Association of Colleges.
Q. What is the 2004 agreement?
A. The 2004 agreement reduced the pay gap between FE staff and schoolteachers. It means higher salaries both for new lecturers and those at the top of the scale and has been uprated in line with pay settlements since.
Q. How long has our college had to bring in the better pay rates?
A. UCU reached agreement with the employers in 2004. The college has now had four years to honour the agreement reached with the unions.
Q. Why does it matter whether my college pays the nationally agreed rate?
A. Staff working here provide first class teaching, yet receive second class salaries compared to other
colleges.
Q. How can I find out what I should be getting paid?
A. Go to www.ucu.org.uk/FEpaycalc to see the current nationally agreed rates enjoyed by staff in
the majority of colleges. Starting salaries for qualified lecturers are £22,857, and top of spine staff get £34,587.
No doubt we will also be told that our action will jeopardise the viability of our college putting our jobs at risk. Well no, it will not! Many will remember that during the last recession it was FE that re trained and re skilled the people of Yorkshire. Again the government this time has stated that Colleges will be the lifeboat in this crisis. Money will be pumped into colleges to re-skill and re-train the workforce and reduce the dole queue. There has been a 40% increase in applications for HE courses nationally. Our message is that colleges should treat the crew of the lifeboat with respect and with the remuneration commensurate with the vital role that we will play. They should pay us what we are owed and have waited long enough to receive. It’s worth remembering that the college is forecasting an operating surplus of £400,000 for 2008/09, having achieved a similar figure in 2007/08.
The old spectre of an argument that the students will be harmed by our action will once again be raised. Well no, it will not! What will harm the students is an exodus of staff to other colleges in Yorkshire, where the Harmonised Pay scale is a reality. If you want to keep the crew in the lifeboat you don’t pay second rate money for a first class and crucial job!
One question you might be asking yourselves is can I afford to take strike action in these economic times? Nobody wants to loose a days pay, but at the same time the longer you work at the college the worse off we are. Colleagues in other institutions will be repeating the benefits of the incremental Harmonised Pay scale while we stay on our fixed points. Also, UCU will be supporting our action by paying £30 strike pay. Employers are exploiting fears about the economy, to ride rough-shod over employees. The key question is can we afford not to take action?
Our college is one of a minority of colleges that refuses to implement a national agreement reached between UCU and the Association of Colleges.
Q. What is the 2004 agreement?
A. The 2004 agreement reduced the pay gap between FE staff and schoolteachers. It means higher salaries both for new lecturers and those at the top of the scale and has been uprated in line with pay settlements since.
Q. How long has our college had to bring in the better pay rates?
A. UCU reached agreement with the employers in 2004. The college has now had four years to honour the agreement reached with the unions.
Q. Why does it matter whether my college pays the nationally agreed rate?
A. Staff working here provide first class teaching, yet receive second class salaries compared to other
colleges.
Q. How can I find out what I should be getting paid?
A. Go to www.ucu.org.uk/FEpaycalc to see the current nationally agreed rates enjoyed by staff in
the majority of colleges. Starting salaries for qualified lecturers are £22,857, and top of spine staff get £34,587.
The principal’s 16.8% pay rise
The recent highlighting of the Principal’s salary increase by our newsletter has caused an understandable wave of anger and resentment across all sections of the college.
While we fought for and received a 3.2% pay rise in the same period LCAD’s Board of Governors awarded the Principal a 16.8% increase from £96,000 (2005/06), £107,000 (2006/07) to £125,000 (2007/08). Turn your anger into support by getting behind the campaign and petitioning for a better deal for everyone.
While we fought for and received a 3.2% pay rise in the same period LCAD’s Board of Governors awarded the Principal a 16.8% increase from £96,000 (2005/06), £107,000 (2006/07) to £125,000 (2007/08). Turn your anger into support by getting behind the campaign and petitioning for a better deal for everyone.
Monday 27 April 2009
March and Rally at Doncaster College, 9 May
Defend jobs, Defend education at Doncaster
The campaign to defend jobs at Doncaster college will move up a gear on Saturday 9 May with a local march in the town centre. Staff are fighting to defend their jobs and win a fresh start at the college after years of mismanagement culminated in a plan to slash jobs and deskill the workforce. The march will be an opportunity for UCU members all over the region and beyond to show their support for colleagues at Doncaster, as well as pushing forward the union’s general campaign to defend jobs and education during the recession. If you can make it on the 9 May, head to Doncaster and show managers that UCU will defend access to education in the interests of staff, students and the whole community. The march will Assemble at 10.30am at The Hub, Chappell Drive, Doncaster: www.multimap.com/s/NGzPhEF8. For more on this campaign click here: www.ucu.org.uk/doncasterjobsthreat
Friday 24 April 2009
Tuesday 21 April 2009
Raise The Scarlet Standard High!
Our new union banner, delivered today, and fetchingly modeled by Christian and Dave (in retro 80's Harrington)!
For the time being it is on display in the Vis Comm office (206) but if anyone fancies displaying it in their office / department, or taking it for walks around Hyde Park then please feel free!
Monday 20 April 2009
Their Crisis! Not Ours! Day of action Weds 22nd April
They’ve bailed out the bankers who started the crisis - but millions of working people across the country are paying with their jobs, pay packets and their homes.
On Wednesday 22nd April, you will finally have your chance to ask the Government: ‘Where’s Our Bailout?’. As the Chancellor delivers the Government’s annual Budget, come and protest in front of the world’s cameras.
Alistair Darling will announce unprecedented cuts in public services. The recession is being used as a convenient marker in the drive to dismantle public services further.
All of the major trade unions, including UCU, will be represented on the day. As educationalists we must keep flagging up how the market is distorting, and will continue to distort, the purpose of education. Support the action if you can, if not spread the word to friends and colleagues.
For more info see Their Crisis! Not Ours! website.
Friday 17 April 2009
IOU campaign – Four more FE colleges balloted for action as next wave are targeted
Four more colleges face ballots for industrial action on 28 April unless their managements agree to talks to implement the 2004 pay agreement. Canterbury College, City College Birmingham, Leeds College of Arts and Design, Suffolk New College will become the next wave of target colleges as the highly successful IOU campaign moves into its next phase. The IOU campaign aims to win implementation of the 2004 pay agreement on pay which introduced significantly improved pay scales for FE lecturers. 17 colleges were targeted as part of the first wave and 12 of these have either agreed on implementation or are now in talks to do so. This is a national campaign with national significance as it is about our ability to win adherence to national agreements and one feature of the campaign so far has been the level of national solidarity shown to colleagues at the target colleges. Watch this space for more on what you can do. For more on this campaign, click here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/iou
Jonathan White
Deputy Head of Campaigns
University and College Union (UCU)
Wednesday 8 April 2009
IOU - please support your union
We are writing to you to ask you to support your union.
The IOU campaign is the union’s campaign to ensure that you receive the pay to which you are entitled. Four years ago, we signed a national deal that brought with it substantial pay rises for lecturing staff. Unfortunately, your college is one of a group who refused to honour this agreement.
We think this is unfair. At a time when politicians are talking about the importance of investing in skills and training to support our communities through the recession, it’s unacceptable that colleges such as yours are trying to get their teaching on the cheap.
Your local branch officers have tried talking to the college about this but in spite of our best efforts, for four years, the college has refused to negotiate meaningfully. That means that we need to show them we are serious and that’s why from 28 April, we will be balloting you for industrial action.
Your college will be one of at least four who have been targeted by UCU as the next phase of our highly successful campaign to persuade colleges to honour national agreements.
We can win. If you support your union in this ballot, together we can ensure that you get the money you are owed. Over the last six months, UCU has targeted 18 other colleges who had not implemented the 2004 pay agreement and all but a handful of these colleges are now in talks about implementing the pay increases.
Our hope is that industrial action will not prove necessary. We have written to the management of your college asking for talks. But the lesson of the other 18 colleges shows that we must be ready to send a clear message that we are serious. See: http://www.ucu.org.uk/iou
So please be ready to support UCU should a ballot prove necessary. In the meantime, the best thing you can do to help the campaign is to make sure your colleagues have seen this message and to urge those who are not yet members to join the union and help us win pay justice. Please pass on this link to join online: http://www.joinonline.ucu.org.uk/
Yours sincerely
Barry Lovejoy, National Head of Further Education
Jonathan White, Deputy Head of Campaigns
Thursday 2 April 2009
LCAD Principals Salary 2005-8
Following our hard fought, but still unsatisfactory, 3.2% pay rise last year, the union feels it important to highlight the pay increases awarded to the principal at Leeds college of Art in recent years (All information is available in the public domain on the LSC website)
LCAD Principals Salary
2005/6- £96,000
2006/7- £107,000 (12% increase)
2007/8- £125,000 (16.8% increase)
Why do the hard working and successful lecturing staff of LCAD only merit a 3.2% payrise yet the principal merits a 16.8% payrise for the same year?
LCAD Principals Salary
2005/6- £96,000
2006/7- £107,000 (12% increase)
2007/8- £125,000 (16.8% increase)
Why do the hard working and successful lecturing staff of LCAD only merit a 3.2% payrise yet the principal merits a 16.8% payrise for the same year?
Friday 27 March 2009
FE pay – more strikes hit remaining target IOU colleges:
Members at four of the target IOU colleges delivered two more days of strike action as they escalated their campaigns for pay justice. Members were out in force at College of North-West London, Dearne Valley, Doncaster and Rotherham Colleges. The days’ activity included picketing and even an ‘Alternative Open Day’ at College of North-West London, in strikers held a day of alternative classes offering the opportunity to ‘build a computer in 10 minutes’ as well as providing masterclasses in plumbing and how to be a success in enterprise. All four colleges have categorically refused to honour a ground-breaking national pay deal, which was thrashed out in 2004, that should have a left a mid-ranking further education lecturer earning £4,511 more a year.
UCU head of further education, Barry Lovejoy, said: “The colleges only have themselves to blame for today’s disruption. The staff are not greedy; they are merely asking for the money they should have been paid four years ago. It is the intransigence of the ‘IOU colleges’ that has pushed members' patience too far and forced them into today’s industrial action". News of the strikes featured on BBC Radio Sheffield, where UCU Regional Official for Yorkshire and Humberside Russ Escritt was interviewed. There were also reports on Trax FM, and Rother FM , and in the following publications:
UCU head of further education, Barry Lovejoy, said: “The colleges only have themselves to blame for today’s disruption. The staff are not greedy; they are merely asking for the money they should have been paid four years ago. It is the intransigence of the ‘IOU colleges’ that has pushed members' patience too far and forced them into today’s industrial action". News of the strikes featured on BBC Radio Sheffield, where UCU Regional Official for Yorkshire and Humberside Russ Escritt was interviewed. There were also reports on Trax FM, and Rother FM , and in the following publications:
http://www.thestar.co.uk/doncaster/College-staff-in-wage-strike.5101722.jp - Sheffield Star
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/localnews/College-staff-set-for-fresh.5106654.jp - Yorkshire Post
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7960320.stm - BBC News website
http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/news/College-lecturers-go-out-on.5107847.jp - South Yorkshire Times
http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/headlines/Lecturers-strike-hits-students.5110607.jp - Sheffield Telegraph
On the eve of the strike, there was good news as members at Sussex Downs College voted overwhelmingly to lift the threat of strike action following management agreement to open talks on implementing the 2004 pay agreement. Only a handful of the original 18 target colleges are now still outstanding and UCU is now planning the next phase of the campaign to ensure that the last remaining colleges are brought on board and to widen the campaign out.
Joining UCU as a fractional lecturer
Many staff at the college are both lecturers and practitioners. It's worth noting that UCU subscriptions count as membership of a professional organisation, so when you come to do your tax returns you can off set the majority of your subscription payments.
This could make a real difference to potential members who only do a small amount of teaching at the college, providing them with the same membership benefits as full time members of staff.
| Current National UCU subscription rates, per month | ||
| F1 | Earnings - £40,000 & over | £15.32 |
| F2 | Earnings - £20,000 to £39,999 | £13.93 |
| F3 | Earnings - £10,000 to £19,999 | £8.62 |
| F4 | Earnings - £5,000 to £9,999 | £3.90 |
| F5 | Earnings - below £5,000 | £2.23 |
Tuesday 24 March 2009
Comparison of LCAD & Harmonised Pay Scales
n.b. LCAD pay spine & increments to the left, 2004 Harmonised Payspine in blue on the right (Unqualified lecturer spine in light blue)
Corporate Aims
It’s good to see that both LCADUCU and Management want the same thing in “applying consistent recruitment procedures for promotions.” (Corporate Aims & Objectives 2008 – 2013, Theme 3: Valuing Staff) However, where we differ is seeing staffing as an integral part of the college. Management by contract want to “to employ the College’s cash reserves to invest in buildings, facilities and equipment that will further improve the students and staff working and social environments.” (Corporate Aims & Objectives 2008 – 2013, Theme 6: Making the best use of funding available for the benefit of students). No mention of investing in staff, so, while they want to “attract, retain and further develop high quality academic and support staff with the necessary qualifications and experience to succeed in their roles” they’re not prepared to pay for it.
Monday 23 March 2009
Support your colleagues in the Yorkshire IOU FE Colleges
Support your colleagues in the Yorkshire IOU FE Colleges – Strike days on 24 and 25 March
The news that action is being suspended at three more colleges shows that membership pressure is continuing to tell in the campaign to win implementation of the 2004 pay agreement in FE.
However, at three colleges in South Yorkshire members will be taking two days of strike action starting tomorrow as they continue to push their intransigent managers. Members at Dearne Valley College, Rotherham College of Art and Technology and at Doncaster, where the additional threat of job cuts looms, will be walking out tomorrow and they need your support.
***WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP***
Join the pickets: If you are near one of the colleges, the best thing you could do on the strike days themselves is head over to visit the pickets at your nearest college. They will really appreciate the solidarity as it helps to show that the national union is behind them. Locate your nearest branch here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3029
Send messages of support: the branches are telling us that the emailed messages of support they have already received have been a tremendous boost to morale. It only takes a second. Email the branch secretaries your message of support. Email them to the branches direct or head office will pass them on. Contact: jwhite@ucu.org.uk
Donate money: these members will have lost a total of three days’ pay by the end of Wednesday. You can help support their fight by donating to the union’s fighting fund. Download the form here to donate: http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/0/l/ioufightingfund_donateform.pdf
***WHAT’S HAPPENING AND WHO TO CONTACT***:
DEARNE VALLEY COLLEGE - Staff will be on picket lines from 7.30am to 9.30am at the main entrances to the college’s Rotherham and Rockingham campuses.
Rotherham Campus:
Rockingham Campus:
Contact: – Joan Bland- jbland@dearne-coll.ac.uk
Tony Sables – 07955 342 683
ROTHERHAM COLLEGE
Staff will be joined by local students on picket lines at the Town Centre site (Howard Building entrance) and Rother Valley site (Doe Quarry entrance) from 7am.
Town Centre site:
Rother Valley site:
Contacts: – Chloe Stothard - cstothard@rotherham.ac.uk
Tom Donaldson, 0781 789 5060
DONCASTER COLLEGE - members will on picket lines from 7am to 9am at the college’s Hub and High Melton campus
main Hub campus:
High Melton Site:
Contact: – Rodney Challis - rodneychallis@googlemail.com - 0796 355 6437
COLLEGE OF NORTH-WEST LONDON
Staff will be on picket lines at the college’s three sites for the entire duration of the 48 hour strike - Dudden Hill, Wembley Park and Kilburn. On Wednesday 25, members will lobby dignitaries – including Lord Young- as they arrive for the opening of the college’s new Telford building.
Dudden Hill:
Wembley Park:
Kilburn:
Contact: Indro Sen – 07737 288 055
The news that action is being suspended at three more colleges shows that membership pressure is continuing to tell in the campaign to win implementation of the 2004 pay agreement in FE.
However, at three colleges in South Yorkshire members will be taking two days of strike action starting tomorrow as they continue to push their intransigent managers. Members at Dearne Valley College, Rotherham College of Art and Technology and at Doncaster, where the additional threat of job cuts looms, will be walking out tomorrow and they need your support.
***WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP***
Join the pickets: If you are near one of the colleges, the best thing you could do on the strike days themselves is head over to visit the pickets at your nearest college. They will really appreciate the solidarity as it helps to show that the national union is behind them. Locate your nearest branch here: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3029
Send messages of support: the branches are telling us that the emailed messages of support they have already received have been a tremendous boost to morale. It only takes a second. Email the branch secretaries your message of support. Email them to the branches direct or head office will pass them on. Contact: jwhite@ucu.org.uk
Donate money: these members will have lost a total of three days’ pay by the end of Wednesday. You can help support their fight by donating to the union’s fighting fund. Download the form here to donate: http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/0/l/ioufightingfund_donateform.pdf
***WHAT’S HAPPENING AND WHO TO CONTACT***:
DEARNE VALLEY COLLEGE - Staff will be on picket lines from 7.30am to 9.30am at the main entrances to the college’s Rotherham and Rockingham campuses.
Rotherham Campus:
Rockingham Campus:
Contact: – Joan Bland- jbland@dearne-coll.ac.uk
Tony Sables – 07955 342 683
ROTHERHAM COLLEGE
Staff will be joined by local students on picket lines at the Town Centre site (Howard Building entrance) and Rother Valley site (Doe Quarry entrance) from 7am.
Town Centre site:
Rother Valley site:
Contacts: – Chloe Stothard - cstothard@rotherham.ac.uk
Tom Donaldson, 0781 789 5060
DONCASTER COLLEGE - members will on picket lines from 7am to 9am at the college’s Hub and High Melton campus
main Hub campus:
High Melton Site:
Contact: – Rodney Challis - rodneychallis@googlemail.com - 0796 355 6437
COLLEGE OF NORTH-WEST LONDON
Staff will be on picket lines at the college’s three sites for the entire duration of the 48 hour strike - Dudden Hill, Wembley Park and Kilburn. On Wednesday 25, members will lobby dignitaries – including Lord Young- as they arrive for the opening of the college’s new Telford building.
Dudden Hill:
Wembley Park:
Kilburn:
Contact: Indro Sen – 07737 288 055
Tuesday 17 March 2009
£400k surplus at LCAD
Take a moment to read the following extract from the information sent to prospective applicants for the recent principles job.
'Revenue Funding
The College has three main sources of funding. In 2008/9 we forecast that the LSC will provide £3.9M, HEFCE £4.3M and fees £3.6M. Most (£3.3M) of the latter is from HE students paying the maximum permissible top-up fee of £3,000 plus inflation. The total income is forecast to be £12.5M. The College holds the LSC category A for funding health and has not had an operating deficit since incorporation in 1993. The College is forecasting an operating surplus of £400K for 2008/9, having achieved a similar figure in 2007/8.'
Since when have educational institutions been in the business of generating a year on year surplus?
Also, given the £400k operating surplus last year, which looks like being repeated this year, surely we have enough money in the coffers to adequately remunerate our fantastic staff and also implement the 2004 harmonised pay spine.
'Revenue Funding
The College has three main sources of funding. In 2008/9 we forecast that the LSC will provide £3.9M, HEFCE £4.3M and fees £3.6M. Most (£3.3M) of the latter is from HE students paying the maximum permissible top-up fee of £3,000 plus inflation. The total income is forecast to be £12.5M. The College holds the LSC category A for funding health and has not had an operating deficit since incorporation in 1993. The College is forecasting an operating surplus of £400K for 2008/9, having achieved a similar figure in 2007/8.'
Since when have educational institutions been in the business of generating a year on year surplus?
Also, given the £400k operating surplus last year, which looks like being repeated this year, surely we have enough money in the coffers to adequately remunerate our fantastic staff and also implement the 2004 harmonised pay spine.
Overwhelming Branch Support For Involvement In The IOU Campaign
Following a recent poll, the Leeds College of Art UCU has overwhelmingly voted in favour of joining the national UCU I.O.U. campaign.
74% of members indicated that they would like the branch to join with Suffolk New College, City College Birmingham and Peterborough College in pushing for implementation of the 2004 nationally agreed harmonised pay spine. Over 50% of FE colleges currently are working to this pay spine and lots more are in the process of implementation.
The harmonised pay spine is an eight point spine which peaks at £34,587. Also, importantly it also includes an automatic incremental payrise annually which, of course, means that staff can progress rapidly up the payspine and avoid the 'glass ceilings' that a lot of us currently find at LCAD.
Management at the college have been formally notified of our intention to join the IOU campaign and, hopefully, fruitful dialogue about the implementation of the harmonised payspine will commence soon.
IOU Campaign
Currently Harmonised Colleges
74% of members indicated that they would like the branch to join with Suffolk New College, City College Birmingham and Peterborough College in pushing for implementation of the 2004 nationally agreed harmonised pay spine. Over 50% of FE colleges currently are working to this pay spine and lots more are in the process of implementation.
The harmonised pay spine is an eight point spine which peaks at £34,587. Also, importantly it also includes an automatic incremental payrise annually which, of course, means that staff can progress rapidly up the payspine and avoid the 'glass ceilings' that a lot of us currently find at LCAD.
Management at the college have been formally notified of our intention to join the IOU campaign and, hopefully, fruitful dialogue about the implementation of the harmonised payspine will commence soon.
IOU Campaign
Currently Harmonised Colleges
IOU - No more teaching on the cheap Campaign
The main issue of the IOU campaign is basically that, despite the AoC and the unions reaching a nationally agreed pay scale in 2004 (5 years ago now!) a lot of colleges are still to implement this yet, ourselves included. Realistically all colleges have had reasonable time to implement this pay scale and the IOU campaign is a national campaign designed to force uncompliant colleges into harmonisation. (over 50% of colleges are operating on this harmonised pay spine now)
The harmonised national pay scale, designed to provide higher salaries for new lecturers and faster progression to the top points, is £22,857-34,587 spread over 8 increments. In addition the harmonised pay spine has an automatic incremental wage rise annually.
Our salary currently only reaches £32, 588 (top of grade C) and by our reckoning has 11 incremental points. Most importantly there is NO AUTOMATIC INCREMENTAL WAGE RISE at LCAD. Incremental rises are rare and seemingly given out at the whim of senior management so the harmonised pay spine's automatic increment would be of most benefit to LCAD staff.
In the first wave of action in Feb, 11 colleges took strike action to force the employers hand
We would be joining in the 2nd wave (the only branch in Yorkshire as we understand it) with a number of other colleges taking similar action. If there was to be strike action it would occur around April
time but of course, we are seeking to implement the harmonised pay spine without having to resort to striking.
The harmonised national pay scale, designed to provide higher salaries for new lecturers and faster progression to the top points, is £22,857-34,587 spread over 8 increments. In addition the harmonised pay spine has an automatic incremental wage rise annually.
Our salary currently only reaches £32, 588 (top of grade C) and by our reckoning has 11 incremental points. Most importantly there is NO AUTOMATIC INCREMENTAL WAGE RISE at LCAD. Incremental rises are rare and seemingly given out at the whim of senior management so the harmonised pay spine's automatic increment would be of most benefit to LCAD staff.
In the first wave of action in Feb, 11 colleges took strike action to force the employers hand
We would be joining in the 2nd wave (the only branch in Yorkshire as we understand it) with a number of other colleges taking similar action. If there was to be strike action it would occur around April
time but of course, we are seeking to implement the harmonised pay spine without having to resort to striking.
Monday 16 March 2009
Wikipedia boast
It is interesting to note that Leeds College of Art's Wikipedia entry boasts of 'It is also a college in good financial shape - presently in the black, according to The Independent newspaper', while at the same time refuses to sign up to the harmonised payscale and automatic increments. I wonder if the two are connected?
Tuesday 10 March 2009
IOU - No more teaching on the cheap Campaign
As you are no doubt aware, despite the recent union won 3.2% salary increase, wage levels at LCAD still fall behind most other institutions in the FE sector. Despite recent meetings between LCAD UCU and management, there is still little or no sign of moves to redress this imbalance.
2004 saw the arrival of a nationally agreed 8-point pay scale (£22,857 – 34,587 with automatic annual increment), which was to be implemented across the sector. Initial implementation was slow but now well over 50% of the sector operates to this harmonised pay spine. LCAD has not implemented this pay spine and seems to be reticent to do so.
This situation is deeply infuriating and because of this LCAD UCU is considering joining the 2nd wave of UCU’s National I.O.U. campaign which aims to force harmonisation in institutions that have yet to make serious moves towards it. See link -
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3636
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2166
Please get in touch with Branch Reps to express your interest in involving LCAD with this national campaign
2004 saw the arrival of a nationally agreed 8-point pay scale (£22,857 – 34,587 with automatic annual increment), which was to be implemented across the sector. Initial implementation was slow but now well over 50% of the sector operates to this harmonised pay spine. LCAD has not implemented this pay spine and seems to be reticent to do so.
This situation is deeply infuriating and because of this LCAD UCU is considering joining the 2nd wave of UCU’s National I.O.U. campaign which aims to force harmonisation in institutions that have yet to make serious moves towards it. See link -
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3636
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2166
Please get in touch with Branch Reps to express your interest in involving LCAD with this national campaign
The TUC survey on climate change
The TUC survey on climate change and greening the workplace will close on Friday 20 March. We’ve had a good response so far – but are still keen to hear from as many union reps and activists as possible.
The survey is on LRD’s website:
http://www.lrd.org.uk/surveys/climate/
Please spend a few minutes completing the questionnaire as soon as possible.
The survey is on LRD’s website:
http://www.lrd.org.uk/surveys/climate/
Please spend a few minutes completing the questionnaire as soon as possible.
Friday 6 February 2009
snowbound
Park Lane College in Leeds has been accused of putting the health and safety of its staff and the local population at risk. UCU has reacted angrily to the news that staff who refused to travel to work earlier this week in treacherous conditions will lose a day's annual leave.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3708
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3708
Wednesday 4 February 2009
UCU pressure pays off at Leeds Met
Face suspension or resign, Leeds Met tells vice-chancellor
(Times Higher Article)
Leeds Met staff stressed and losing sleep over management bullying(UCU article)
Tuesday 13 January 2009
Roles within the Branch
Current Roles
Richard Miles: Branch Secretary
Christian Lloyd: Branch Chair
Cari Morton: Representative for Vernon St & Rossington St
Garry Barker: Health & Safety Officer
Following the Branch AGM the following posts were discussed:
Equality Officer
Supporting and addressing issues ethnicity, disability, gender & sexuality within the work place.
This role could be filled by more than one person. Training is available for this role.
Staff Consultative Committee Representative
UCU has a representative on this committee that aims 'to improve communication between staff and management; to provide a forum for management or staff to raise topics on which they would like to initiate change and consider issues of mutual concern; to consider policies in draft format and advise on the same'. While management driven this is a useful opportunity to put members' issues onto the Agenda. Janine Sykes has expressed an interest but this role can be shared if anybody else wants to get involved?
Health & Safety Officer
Currently we have one health and safety office but the opportunity to have more to cover the diverse range of workshops we operate in. The role is to engage with the college's H+S committee, identify and raise H+S concerns and generally promote good working practice. Training is available for this role.
Treasurer
Currently this a small role and can be added to existing Branch Officers responsibilites.
Membership/recruitment Officer
Currently this is covered by existing branch officers but as the branch continues to grow could be seen as a separate role.
Please can you let me know if you're interested in any of these roles or want to discuss them further.
Thanks
Christian
Richard Miles: Branch Secretary
Christian Lloyd: Branch Chair
Cari Morton: Representative for Vernon St & Rossington St
Garry Barker: Health & Safety Officer
Following the Branch AGM the following posts were discussed:
Equality Officer
Supporting and addressing issues ethnicity, disability, gender & sexuality within the work place.
This role could be filled by more than one person. Training is available for this role.
Staff Consultative Committee Representative
UCU has a representative on this committee that aims 'to improve communication between staff and management; to provide a forum for management or staff to raise topics on which they would like to initiate change and consider issues of mutual concern; to consider policies in draft format and advise on the same'. While management driven this is a useful opportunity to put members' issues onto the Agenda. Janine Sykes has expressed an interest but this role can be shared if anybody else wants to get involved?
Health & Safety Officer
Currently we have one health and safety office but the opportunity to have more to cover the diverse range of workshops we operate in. The role is to engage with the college's H+S committee, identify and raise H+S concerns and generally promote good working practice. Training is available for this role.
Treasurer
Currently this a small role and can be added to existing Branch Officers responsibilites.
Membership/recruitment Officer
Currently this is covered by existing branch officers but as the branch continues to grow could be seen as a separate role.
Please can you let me know if you're interested in any of these roles or want to discuss them further.
Thanks
Christian
Friday 9 January 2009
Stop The War Coalition
TUC Aid is launching an appeal for contributions to support emergency humanitarian relief of the people of Gaza following the offensive by the Israeli Army. The TUC has also called for an immediate ceasefire. For more information, please go here: http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-15812-f0.cfm
UCU is supporting this appeal. In addition, many members will be attending the demonstration this Saturday which is organised by Stop the War coalition to which UCU is affiliated. The national union banner will be at Speakers Corner from 12.30pm on the right-hand side as you enter the Park – please also bring your own branch and regional banners. For more information about the demonstration, please go here: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/
Thursday 8 January 2009
Welcome
Welcome to Leeds College of Art & Design (LCAD)'s University & College Union (UCU) branch blog. This site has been established to enable open discussions between an expanding membership and to bridge the gap between our various buildings. We hope that through our contributions we can establish our ongoing agenda and raise the profile of the Branch for the rest of the staff at the college.
For many members this may be their first experience of using a weblog or 'blogging' but don't panic, help is at hand both online and within the Branch (talk to Christian for one-to-one help). Over the next few weeks we will start to develop help pages to support everyone, but in the meantime, check the site regularly for new content, consider your own contributions and if you are feeling confident, log on and have a go at posting something yourselves.
Anonymity might be a concern for some members, consequently there is one global log on for all of us, the password has been circulated via email. If you are happy to put your name to any contributions then please do so.
Happy Blogging
Christian Lloyd
LCAD UCU Chair
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